CCAMLR Marine Debris Monitoring Program, 2023

CCAMLR monitors marine debris in the Convention Area through the Marine Debris Monitoring Program (MDMP) established in 1986. The MDMP compiles data from surveys and opportunistic sightings conducted by Members, fishing gear reported by CCAMLR Scheme of International Scientific Observation (SISO) observers as lost by fishing vessels, and marine debris (including fishing gear) observed at-sea. A large majority of debris are reported as plastic items or fishing gear, and the quantity of debris observed each year is increasing, although standardising for effort is difficult given the currently reported information. Lost longline gear reported by fishing vessels in the Convention Area has been decreasing in recent years. While spatial patterns in gear loss generally reflect spatial patterns in fishing effort, some areas show higher rates of loss, likely due to a combination of sea ice dynamics, currents, and seafloor characteristics. Continued developmental work by the Intersessional Correspondence Group on Marine Debris would be useful to develop and standardise marine debris metrics for reporting and progress methods to facilitate the sampling and monitoring of macro- and micro-debris in the Convention Area.